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Chris Tompkins fell in love with fishing as a little kid when he spent summers on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin with his grandparents. His love for conservation followed some 20 years ago, when his grandmother gave him his first membership to Trout Unlimited, a non-profit conservation group dedicated to preserving coldwater resources.

Since then, Chris’ efforts to help restore streams and wetland areas have earned him titles of "fish recycler" and, more importantly, a "Hero of Conservation" by Field and Stream Magazine. As part of this volunteer group, he spearheaded a multi-year stream restoration project on a small tributary of the Skykomish River. He also started a project to distribute salmon carcasses (tens of thousands of pounds of them) to several river tributaries as a nutrient enhancement project designed to benefit steelhead and salmon.

"I’m usually outdoors when I’m not at work, and these projects have been a lot of work as well as very rewarding," Chris says.

Chris got his interest in science from his parents. His mother received a Ph.D. in Microbiology at Georgetown, and then went on to get her M.D. in Infectious diseases at Dartmouth. His father is also an M.D. and was a scientist at NIH with Marshall Nuremburg in the 1960’s. Nuremburg shared the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1968.

"I was treated to lots of weekend lab visits as a kid with my parents, and science fascinated me at an early age," he recalls. "I always wanted to work in the lab. I love to explore and discover."

At work, Chris calls himself part of the "soup group" in his role as manager of protein production at VLST. His team grows cells that express recombinant proteins that are used in the company’s therapeutic screening platform. Chris and his colleagues receive DNA from the VLST discovery group and create the "soup" that contains proteins of interest. The job requires round-the-clock monitoring, meaning some night and weekend shifts.

"It’s exciting to be close to the cutting edge and to start with a company when it’s small and watch it grow," Chris says. "There is a good dynamic among the team and I enjoy what I do."

Chris realizes that both his work at creating proteins for potential therapeutics and his conservation activities are projects that take both patience and time to see to fruition.

"There are ups and downs with any project, but it’s good to keep focused and keep it going," he states, adding "I just go with the flow."

During the week, you can find Aaron Posey in the research labs at VLST. But come the weekend, it’s an entirely different story.

Whether it’s fishing with his dad, clam digging with his sisters, hiking with his friends or trail running, Aaron enjoys being active, being outdoors and spending time with his family and friends.

"Pretty much every weekend I get on the ferry and go home," he said. "I really like hanging out with my family and getting outside."

As far as his career, Aaron has always had an interest in science – growing up he was a regular fan of Bill Nye the Science Guy. He was initially thinking of becoming a medical doctor in college, but after shadowing a physician, he realized it wasn’t the best fit for him.

"I found I really enjoyed the research and discovery aspects of laboratory science and that’s what I pursued." Aaron went on to receive a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry at Whitworth College. Aaron’s career path to VLST has included stops at other biotechnology companies in Seattle including Targeted Genetics and Dendreon Corporation. At VLST, he’s found great enjoyment in early preclinical research and drug discovery.

"It’s very rewarding to have your hand in the discovery of something that could someday benefit other people."

Patty Grossbard would easily admit that few work days are ever the same for her at VLST. And she loves it that way.

Wearing multiple hats at work, and often donning an apron when at home, Patty relishes a life that is multifaceted.

“I really do enjoy handling multiple tasks at once. It’s a very rewarding thing for me, and I’m glad I have such an opportunity.”

Patty has been in the health field for many years. She received a degree in respiratory therapy from Mt. San Antonio College and worked for many years in a hospital environment. After taking some time to be a full-time mom, Patty decided she wanted to return to the workplace in the area of biotechnology. Part of that interest stemmed from being very involved in the care of her father, who had multiple myeloma.

“The health and medical arena has always been very interesting to me, and I became more personally connected with product research after my father was enrolled in a clinical trial,” she explained. “I have chosen to work in the area of biotech because I feel strongly about the commitment towards creating drugs that can cure diseases or alleviate the struggles associated with them.”

At VLST, Patty serves as the assistant to the entire VLST executive staff as well as handling other duties. One of her most enjoyable responsibilities is managing VLST’s blood donor program.  Blood samples collected from private donors are used for in-house research, such as developing assays. Patty spends time placing advertisements for donors, scheduling donations and serves as the primary point of contact.

Born in Ontario, Canada, Patty moved to Southern California when she was a young child. Less than two years ago, she became a U.S. citizen. She has lived in the Seattle area for the last 15 years.

Outside of work, Patty is passionate about cooking and enjoys entertaining.  Following encouragement from friends, she started her own catering business and now cooks for private events.

“Somehow, I find the time,” she laughs. “It’s something I really enjoy and that always makes it worthwhile.”

Change is something Anne-Rachel Krostag has had a lot of in the past few years. Getting married, moving from her hometown in Canada to Seattle and starting a new job at VLST have kept her busy.

Anne-Rachel works as a research associate in the VLST protein engineering group. The job is different from the research work she did in Burnaby, B.C and it’s something she really enjoys.

"I really like how VLST is developing me, and I’m learning a whole new technology," she explains. "I have a great group of people I work with as well."

Anne-Rachel grew up in the Vancouver B.C. area and attended the British Columbia Institute of Technology and the University of the Fraser Valley. Her mother is a nurse, and she always had an interest and desire to be involved in a medical-related profession. Yet it was during her biology class in high school that she became hooked on science.

"I remember my teacher describing Biotechnology and how you could ‘look at DNA by making it migrate through little pores’ – gel electrophoresis. It’s not very interesting now, but I remember thinking how exciting and cutting edge it sounded," she recalls.

Moving to Seattle and getting married to her husband, a web developer, was a busy time for Anne-Rachel. She started work at VLST one day after moving to Seattle.

As busy as Anne-Rachel’s life has been in the past two years, she has still found time to explore something else completely new. Through her work connections, Anne-Rachel stumbled upon a new pastime of jewelry making.

"My co-worker, and friend, was attending a class on silversmithing and metalsmithing to make brow bands, and so I decided to go along and take it with her," she explains.

Through this and other classes, Anne-Rachel learned how to solder, do stone settings and other techniques. She now spends a lot of free time creating various pieces of silver jewelry. Her bracelets, necklaces and earrings are sold online through a local craft distributor.

"It’s different from the work I do during the day and it’s fun and satisfying Plus you end up with something shiny and pretty," she reflected.

Michelle Scalley-Kim has a bent toward experimentation. Having worked in a lab setting for more than 18 years, there’s no doubt that her days are filled with trying new discoveries, making modifications and taking new paths.

But outside of her day job, Michelle finds that she views some of her favorite activities – gardening and cooking -- in the same light as her work.

"My garden is one big experiment to me. I’m always trying new plants, moving things around and just seeing what works," she said. "And same goes for cooking. I modify things, change things around."

Michelle’s interest in science emerged in high school – "I just knew it was the obvious choice for me," she recalls. Following her undergrad at University of California, Berkeley, Michelle went to work as a lab technician at the University of Washington. Three years later she joined the UW graduate program, where she received a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology studying protein folding and design. While a graduate student, she also obtained an MBA. After that, she worked as a Post Doctoral Fellow studying DNA-protein binding specificity at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

It was in her post-grad work that she met her husband, David Kim, also a scientist. The couple have two sons, age 5 and 18 months.

"My older son tells everyone his parents are scientists," laughs Michelle. "He thinks we are experts on everything from dinosaurs to astronomy!"

In her work at VLST, Michelle is head of the protein engineering group. Their charge is to conduct research to make improvements to antibody drugs. "We’re one component of the team. Everyone contributes along the way."

Following her years of work in an academic lab setting, Michelle is greatly enjoying her work at VLST.

"It’s very rewarding to work on a project focused on going to the clinic. There is a fast pace, lots of projects and great interaction with the people you work with."

Growing up in the Midwest with a large family, Kurt Lustig was exposed to science and the health field at an early age. His father being a radiologist, and his mother an occupational therapist; he heard stories about their work and consequently was directed toward advanced science classes at school.

“Science became interesting to me as an undergraduate, and I found it was something I wanted to pursue,” he said.

Kurt’s family, which includes four brothers and two sisters, is a large part of his life. They are scattered around the country, which makes it difficult to get everyone together frequently. However, the clan does get together during holidays or other special occasions and they keep in touch during the week by phone or email.

Kurt attended college at the University of South Dakota, University of North Dakota. His undergrad work was focused in science and psychology with a minor in chemistry. When a friend he had known since grade school moved to Seattle, Kurt decided to follow and continue his studies at the University of Washington. Two of Kurt’s brothers have since moved to the Seattle area, and he sees them often.

Kurt has worked at several biotechnology companies in the Seattle area conducting preclinical research. At VLST, his research  is centered on in vivo pharmacology, where he studies therapeutics in preclinical settings.

“I enjoy the culture here at VLST.  I like the license to pursue ideas and give input about the projects. I find that to be rewarding,” he said.

Outside of work, some of Kurt’s favorite activities include fly-fishing, travel, cooking and painting.  His interest in fly fishing is one shared by his brothers and father as well. Each year they get together for an annual fly fishing trip.

“We grew up fishing together so we enjoy all getting out on the river and catching up,” he said.

It was an eye-opening experience when Lizzie Scallon learned that a pair of shoes can change the life of a pygmy child in Rwanda.

“If a child doesn’t have a pair of shoes, they aren’t allowed to attend school,” she explained. “By giving a child shoes, you open the door for them to have an education – to have a different life. You learn that even small actions can have a very large impact.”

Lizzie spends her work days as operations manager at VLST, a job where she enjoys having a variety of activities and responsibilities. During her off time, she devotes efforts to the non-profit she helped to found, the Pygmy Survival Alliance (www.pygymsurvival.org).  The project is devoted to supporting efforts that allow for the pygmy population in Rwanda to survive. The pygmy people identify their needs and the organization works to secure resources to meet those needs. Support has included medical care, education, clothing, food, water, transportation, housing, and governance. In the process, we respect their values, culture, autonomy, and their own responsibility. 

As a vice president of the organization, Lizzie has developed a website, coordinates efforts and often gives talks to local groups to encourage others to take part. 

“You get just an overwhelming feeling to help people and change their lives,” she said.  “You see you can actually make a difference.”

Lizzie was born in Bellevue, Washington and has lived in the Seattle area her whole life. She attended Seattle University, where she received a bachelor of sciences degree in biochemistry and a bachelor of arts degree in humanities.

In addition to her work at VLST and her non-profit efforts, Lizzie keeps plenty busy with a host of other activities. She has a large circle of friends she interacts with and who expose her to new hobbies.

One of her favorite creative outlets is glass blowing, which she does when she can. She has had two art exhibits and jokes that her mother’s garden “is full of my glass blowing rejects.”  Lizzie also likes to give handmade gifts included soaps, candles and dishes.

“I like having a lot of different things to do,” she says. “I get bored easily, so it’s great to find new things to explore.”

Ask Emily Rowell how she developed a lifelong interest in science and she’ll tell you it’s all her parents’ fault. Her father was a professor of geology and paleontology and her stay-at-home mother was a naturalist, with training in zoology and botany.

“With two science geeks as parents I think it was inevitable,” she explains. “I still remember my first science fair project where I decided to zap plants with electric fields and look for changes in growth. In some cases I had roots growing right out of the soil! “

Emily grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where her parents still live in the same house she grew up in.  She attended Colgate University, receiving a B.A. in neuroscience and went on to receive a Ph.D. in immunology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

“I became disenchanted with the psychological side of neuroscience, but as I studied multiple sclerosis I became interested in the inflammatory processes going on, and decided to switch fields to immunology for my graduate studies” she recalls.

In 2006, Emily moved to Seattle to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Washington School of Medicine in the Department of Immunology. She also married a Seattleite who convinced her to stay in the Puget Sound. Last year, she moved from academic research to working for VLST as a senior scientist.  At VLST, she works in preclinical development, conducting experiments in cellular and molecular immunology. This includes developing biological assays to test the effects of therapeutic compounds in development.

When she started to work for VLST, Emily explains she had to “think about science very differently,” as she became part of a team instead of conducting more self-directed research.

“I really like the atmosphere here. The sense of camaraderie and the emphasis on teamwork  makes me look forward to coming to work every day. I’m helping to lay the foundation for getting drugs into clinical trials and that is very rewarding.”

When not at work, Emily calls herself a “weekend warrior,” spending time outdoors rock climbing, mountain climbing, skiing and enjoying other favorite pastimes such as traveling, reading and cooking. Though she met her husband rock climbing, he also shares an interest in science as well, working as a middle school science teacher.

For Stefan Ponko, science is a large part of his life both at work and at play. Whether it’s geologic pursuits or bioinformatic research, Stefan has an interest in most things science-related.

Stefan’s interest in discovery was developed at an early age by numerous geology and archeology-related family vacations. Stefan went on to receive an undergraduate degree in geology at Central Washington University and an advanced degree at Arizona State University, where he received a Ph.D. in Geology, studying seismic tomography and developing thermal models of volcanic regions.

“It sounded very exciting to be able to image magma chambers under volcanoes,” he recalled. “I enjoyed this quite a bit and thought I might continue on in academia or perhaps work in the oil industry.”

Instead, Stefan moved to Seattle around the time of the dot com boom, and entered into the field of software and database development for an early e-commerce company. A few years later, he started work at Immunex Corporation in the field of bioinformatics, also doing software development and data management.

“The fundamentals of the work I do are the same across various disciplines,” he explains. “I’m working with large data sets and distilling that information down in order to be analyzed and interpreted.”

In his job as bioinformatics lead at VLST, Stefan is charged with a variety of activities:  developing software, algorithms and databases to select viral proteins for screening, managing and analyzing the mass spectrometry data, and for tracking the thousands of proteins produced at VLST. Working with enormous amounts of data, Stefan utilizes a variety of computational methods to devise ways to analyze information. It’s work that he finds is very rewarding.

At home, Stefan likes to get out and enjoy the mountains with his family. He and his wife, son and daughter spend as much time as they can outdoors, hiking, snowshoeing and doing some gold prospecting every now and then. Staying true to his love of learning and the outdoors, he recently took a sailing class at the Center for Wooden Boats and enjoyed it so much that he and a friend bought an old sail boat to explore the Sound.